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Tag: Sony Pictures Networks India

  • Sony Pictures Sports Network to broadcast WrestleMania 37

    Sony Pictures Sports Network to broadcast WrestleMania 37

    KOLKATA: Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN), the exclusive home of WWE in India, announced the broadcast destination for WrestleMania 37, the global pop-culture extravaganza featuring WWE Superstars from across Raw, SmackDown, and NXT divisions.

    This year fans across Indian sub-continent can watch the WWE Dhamaal action unfold live on 11 April and 12 April, on Sony Ten 1 (English) and Sony Ten 3 (Hindi) channels from 4.30 am IST. WrestleMania 37 will have WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan and Tampa's own WWE superstar Titus O’Neil host the two-night event emanating from the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. This year’s WrestleMania is “Back in Business” and will mark the first time that fans will be in the stands for a WWE event since early March 2020.

    To celebrate the return of this electrifying event, SPSN has launched a campaign film, which celebrates the legacy of WrestleMania, entertaining multiple generations of families for years and looking forward to showcasing WWE Superstars battle to turn into ‘The Champion of Champions’. Furthermore, SPSN’s programming initiatives will make the majestic event of WWE’s calendar more accessible to fans across India through live English and Hindi commentary.

    To engage WWE fans and ensure they get a chance to express themselves, SPSN is putting together a special show ‘Live extraaa dhamaal WrestleMania’ that aims to build a community for the Indian WWE fanbase and make them feel an intrinsic part of the event. The show will have a wide range of discussion topics such as discussions on match results to possible ramifications to trending topics to social media buzz and last but not the least fan reaction to the majestic event. The 30-minute post event show will be anchored by Sahil Khattar and will also have a different WWE Superstar joining as a guest live from the venue each day.

    Sony Pictures Networks India sports business distribution head & chief revenue officer Rajesh Kaul said: “WrestleMania is the biggest special event from the WWE stable which has drawn audiences over the years, and we will reach out to a wider audience by providing WrestleMania in both English and Hindi.”

     In another important announcement, the WWE NXT brand which has been revolutionising the world of sports entertainment with innovative styles from trend-setting and unapologetic superstars will now air live on Wednesday mornings at 5:30 am in India beginning 14 April 2021. With the change in programming schedule, the passionate WWE fanbase will get more of what they love with back-to-back nights of exhilarating action. WWE NXT boasts a diverse international roster with 95 per cent of the current Raw and SmackDown roster coming through the WWE NXT talent development ranks including Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss to name a few.

  • Kotwali Police Station in Ludhiana busts illegal STB racket

    Kotwali Police Station in Ludhiana busts illegal STB racket

    KOLKATA: A store in Ludhiana, PAL Electronics, was raided by Kotwali police station on 16 March, after Sony-appointed raiding agency Mediasoft Legal Solution’s service manager Harminder Singh complained that pay channels of Sony, Star, Zee and other major broadcasters were being sold via unauthorised set-top boxes (Pagaria Boxes) without the proper licence or any distribution agreements.

    The store was selling the illegal boxes at Rs 1,500 on the false pretence that the buyer can watch all the leading pay channels like SET, Sony SAB, Star Plus, Zee TV etc without any fee for a period of six months. Once the initial free subscription period would be over, the buyers could recharge it at Rs 200 for another six months, the store informed users.

    When the representative of Mediasoft Legal Solutions led by the Sony Pictures Networks Team, along with the Kotwali Police Station raided the store, the team recovered 11 pre-programmed Pagaria STB boxes, which are currently in police custody. The police is investigating the matter and will be filing the FIR today.

    These illegal boxes work with the help of an internet connection and receive pay channels. These Pagaria STBs are being sold to the subscribers with the aforementioned false promises. Of late, there has been a significant rise in piracy of TV channels causing much concern to broadcasters and large multi-system operators (MSOs).

    Naïve users fall prey to this false claim as authentic cable and DTH operators charge around Rs 300 to 350 per month for the popular pay channels. Now with many more such raids in the pipeline by all the leading broadcasters and local MSO’s, it is a matter of time before the TV screens of the users of such illegal STBs are going to go blank suddenly one fine day, with no one to approach for any complaints or servicing. Sony Pictures Networks team has scheduled many raids across Gujarat, Punjab and other states along with other broadcasters.

    TV piracy is becoming big business in India where the miscreants are giving access to multiple premium channels at lower costs with the help of emerging technologies. But with regulators now on the heels of this form of piracy, it is only a matter of time before stringent action is taken against all such players.

  • Sony lines up 15 top-bill sponsors for India vs Australia series

    Sony lines up 15 top-bill sponsors for India vs Australia series

    KOLKATA: Sony Pictures Sports Network (SPSN) is all set to broadcast the highly anticipated India tour of Australia 2020 series starting 27 November, which will feature 3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and 4 Tests. The matches will be aired live on Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 3 and Sony Six channels in India from 8.00 am IST and will be livestreamed on its on-demand OTT platform SonyLIV.

    SPSN will broadcast the series on Sony Ten 1 channels in English, Sony Ten 3 channels in Hindi and Sony Six channels in English, Tamil and Telugu. The ODIs and T20Is will be telecast across all three channels, while the Test matches will be aired on Sony Six & Sony Ten 3.

    To further enhance the fan experience, SPSN will return with its flagship studio show Extraaa Innings. The programme will feature a star-studded line-up of legends and former cricketers like Glenn McGrath, Sanjay Manjrekar, Ajay Jadeja, Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan, Nick Knight, Mohammad Kaif, Murali Karthik, Vivek Razdan, Ajit Agarkar and Vijay Dahiya, who will share their insights with viewers through the course of the series. Harsha Bhogle and Arjun Pandit have been roped in as English and Hindi presenters respectively along with Erin Holland who will be the on-ground presenter for the series.

    Viewers in India will get to experience both world feed commentary from Australia with Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist as well as customised English and Hindi commentary from SPSN’s band of panellists. SPSN has also tied up with Fox Sports Australia and will feature their eminent panellists like Allan Border, Isa Guha and Brendan Julian on Extraaa Innings and viewers in Australia will also get to enjoy SPSN’s Hindi commentary on Fox Sport Australia’s digital platform. The commentators for the Tamil feed will feature Arasu, Sheshadri Srinivasan, Vidhyut Sivaramakrishnan, R Sathish and Naveen Shauri while the commentators for the Telugu feed will feature RJ Hemant, Vijay Mahavadi, Gnaneshwar Rao, C Venkatesh and Illendula Ramprasad.

    The network has brought on board sponsors and co-presenters like Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, My11Circle, Byju’s, Payments on Amazon.in and Vimal Pan Masala, while the associate sponsors include Mondelez, Pernod Ricard, MRF, SBI Mutual Fund, Netflix, Car24, MP Birla Cement, PharmEasy and Ather Energy. In addition to this, Dettol has been roped in as the presenting sponsor for the studio show, Dettol Extraaa Innings. The broadcaster is in the process of closing more sponsors in the next few days.

     “Cricket in India is not just a sport; it is an emotion and Sony Sports is excited to showcase all live action from Team India’s first endeavour after nine months against Indian cricket’s biggest rival, Australia. This will also be the first time that fans will be allowed to attend an international match as all the recent international series since March were played behind closed doors. We know how significant this series is for Indian fans and will be airing the series with four language feeds -English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu to reach out to a wider set of viewers, ” Sony Pictures Networks India chief revenue officer, sports business distribution and head Rajesh Kaul said.

    With the aim of maximising engagement from Indian cricket fans, SPSN has launched the #CricketKaAsliRang campaign that pays an ode to the undying true-blue love for the game of cricket. The campaign is a clarion call to all the Indian cricket fans, across the globe, invoking them to show support and cheer for their home team. The campaign is based on a simple insight that for every Indian cricket fan, no matter who the opponent or the player, the heart beats only for Team India, the voice cheers only for Team India and the true colour of cricket for India is BLUE.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India turns 25

    Sony Pictures Networks India turns 25

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has completed 25 years in the country, and to commemorate the silver jubilee, SPN MD and CEO NP Singh penned a special letter to thank SPN’s members for accompanying them on this journey.

    On 8 October 1995, when the Indian broadcast industry was still taking baby steps, Sony ventured into the Indian market with the launch of Hindi general entertainment channel (GEC), Sony Entertainment Television.

    “From one channel, bit by bit, we became a 24-channel network with a digital OTT service SonyLlV, a film production arm, SPN Productions, and a content creation studio, Studio NEXT,” wrote Singh about the network’s growth trajectory.

    The company has steadily grown over the years to an employee count of around 1,200, with its services available across 167 countries and reaching over 700 million viewers. “Today, Sony Pictures Networks, is among the top entertainment and sports networks in the country, recognised as an employer of choice within and outside the media fraternity,” he wrote.

    Singh then touched upon the biggest gamble he took in his career: entering into uncharted territory with the Indian Premier League (IPL). This move came at a time when cricket leagues were unheard of. But his bet paid off in a big way. The network moulded IPL into one of the most valuable sports entertainment properties in the country.

    Challenging the status quo has always been in SPN’s DNA, he wrote further. “Creating category firsts over the years stands out when I look back. After the launch of SET in 1995, came the launch of Sony MAX in 1999. It was a one of its kind channel that offered to our viewers blockbuster Hindi movies, cricket and special events. This created a unique and unparalleled three-pronged channel identity which has not been replicated since. Some of India's most iconic entertainment properties that have stood the test of time have been from the SPN stable.”

    Singh went on to highlight how SPN has always observed fiscal discipline, writing: “We have invested where we expected a strong strategic and economic value and exited from properties which appeared unviable over the longer term.” This included launching SAB in 1995, Sony Max in 1999, and then acquiring TEN Sports, Sony Aath, and the launch of kids channel Sony YAY!. They also forayed into the regional space with Sony Marathi.

    In the early years, Singh realised that digital needed to be the cornerstone of the network’s strategy. In 2013, SPN became the first broadcaster in the country to launch an OTT platform – SonyLIV. “I am confident of its bright future,” affirmed Singh.

    He elaborated on the subject of SPN’s collaboration with international players and how it has set the network apart from its competition. “We have forged a strong partnership with BBC Worldwide to launch a very successful premium factual entertainment channel, Sony BBC Earth. Our long-standing partnerships with some of the biggest names in the world of sport including WWE, NBA, Cricket Australia, ECB and Sri Lanka Cricket, bring live content to our viewers in India.”

    When it comes to a fair and inclusive workplace, SPN has been recognised by the industry as one of India’s Great Places to Work, said Singh, adding: “We envision a company where in the next five years, 50 per cent of our workforce will be women, people with disabilities or from the LGBT+ community.”

    Though only time will tell what shape or form the company will take in future, Singh is determined to ensure that SPN only goes from strength to strength.

    He stated: ‘It’s been an eventful journey of 25 years and we have come a long way. We will continue to go all out and live up to our corporate ethos of ‘Go-Beyond’, not just in name but in action and spirit.”

  • Kapil Sharma and Sony YAY! collaborate to give a festive treat to all Honey Bunny fans

    Kapil Sharma and Sony YAY! collaborate to give a festive treat to all Honey Bunny fans

    MUMBAI: This festive season, in a bid to deliver the ultimate laughter riot to its audiences, Sony YAY! brings in the comedy king of Hindi television entertainment, Kapil Sharma to the ‘Jholmaal’ gang. Keeping in mind the endearing bond kids share with Honey and Bunnyand massive fandom of the comedian host Kapil, the channel announces its brand-new offering, ‘The HoneyBunny Show with Kapil Sharma’. Slated to release on 12th October, the dynamic trio will present a never-seen-before onscreen camaraderie for their young fans in a series of minisodes. The hilarious sketches have been co-created with Kapil where he donsvarious comic avatars be it as a doctor, umpire or even the broker on the moon, as the trio try to outwit each other with their quirky wisecracks and zestful quips.

    The feline duoin the show Honey Bunny ka Jholmaal, has gained tremendous popularity amongst young ones across the country with their rib-tickling goofiness and exciting adventures. This goes to place the show as the flag bearer of the channel with a colossal 24 hours of fresh content. Add to that, Honey Bunny led snackable content like Lapet teh raho and muppet tales are a massive hit on YouTube. The recently launched mobile games ‘Honey Bunny ka Jetpack and the crazy chase game’ have already garnered millions of downloads on Play Store. The feline characters have also found their way to retail shelfs in the form of apparels, stickers and stationary through strong licensing partnerships and an expanse of alliances with brands such as Gelato, PVR and Hyatt etc.

    With the promise of fun, friendship and more, Honey and Bunny alongside Kapil Sharma are all set to create the ultimate humorous experience as they set the small screen ablaze. The channel plans to bolster its festive offerings with an exciting programming line-up with the launch of 6 brand new movies and exciting fresh episodes.

    Comments:

    Leena Lele Dutta, Business Head, Sony Pictures Networks India, Kids’ Genre!

     “Honey-Bunny have successfully made a special space for themselves. And today, they have an entire ecosystem of their own, right from mobile games, AR filter, short format content on digital platforms to telemovies. We are excited to announce that we have further extended their universe and collaborated with Kapil Sharma to present a unique line-up for the young fans of Honey Bunny. I am sure that the audience will thoroughly enjoy this unique combination.”

    Kapil Sharma
    “I believe animation is for every age group, I loved watching my favourite toons in animated shows while growing up. The opportunity to collaborate with the goofy cat duo, Honey Bunny gave me the chance to revisit those memories. This also gives me the chance to reach out to kids, who have always held a special place in my heart.  I am very excited for this absolute dangal of comedy with Honey and Bunny and together hope to win everybody’s hearts. I thank Sony YAY! for this wonderful opportunity and I hope the audiences have as much fun watching the show as much as we had making it!

  • Sony Pictures Networks India features in list of India’s best workplaces for 2020

    Sony Pictures Networks India features in list of India’s best workplaces for 2020

    MUMBAI: Cementing its stature as an 'Employer of Choice', Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has been featured amongst the top 50 in India's best workplaces for women 2020 by Great Place to Work Institute. This is the third accolade for the conglomerate, earlier in June 2020 they were honoured with India's best companies to work For 2020 and India's best workplaces in media 2020 lists by the Great Place to Work Institute.

    Through its rigorous and objective methodology, the Great Place to Work Institute helps organizations identify, create, and sustain great workplaces worldwide through the development of high-trust cultures. In this year's study spanning 800 organizations and 21 industries, SPN leads the way in ensuring gender parity and inclusion of women at work. 

    At SPN, people, passion, and purpose are aligned to enable employees to ‘tell stories beyond the ordinary’. It is a strategic priority for the network to provide a conducive environment for our employees, especially the women workforce to help them to excel in their personal and professional careers.

    · The SPN Apex Diversity and Inclusion Council, comprising top leaders and external diverse advisory members, charts the course for Inclusion at SPN from a cognitive, generational and gender perspective. The council hosts unconscious bias sensitization trainings, internal campaigns for leaders and employees, and incentivizing diverse referrals with 2X rewards

    · Women are always given equal weightage during talent reviews for identifying critical high potential talent and succession planning, resulting in 50 percent of our workforce comprising high potential and talented women. Additionally, our continuous performance philosophy holds managers accountable for their adherence to corporate values and believing in the power of diversity  

    · Through women leadership programs such as 360-degree feedback, Pivot-Ups, online platforms and educational assistance, women employees can avail multiple avenues to chart the career of their choice. We also host internal forums helmed by our leaders and encourage women leaders to participate in external forums and conferences

    · Signature initiatives like ‘live your dream’ encourage women to shatter their inhibitions and help manage imposter syndrome by fuelling their entrepreneurial dreams, with sponsorships from the CEO. With support from the flagship channels of the network and content ideation platforms like Dastangoi and 'SPNI Pitchers', women can re-invent themselves and deliver the next big idea

    · As a measure towards adapting the new normal, the network launched Ace: Act. Care. Engage. This umbrella wellbeing philosophy provides end-to-end solution for benefit and care, mandatory leaves, scheduled downtime, plus a holistic set of physical and mental wellness benefits such as enhanced EAP and wellbeing resources

    · Stringent Posh policy championed by select employees across teams ensures a safe work environment. Enhanced maternity benefits (fertility treatments), universal primary caregiver leave (26 weeks – childbirth, adoption and surrogacy), free near-site creche, preferential parking for expectant and new mothers, mother’s room, medical insurance is some of the additional favourable initiatives

    At SPN, inclusion is a strong cultural thread that drives employees to push the envelope in generating pathbreaking, premium, progressive content. As an 'employer of choice,' SPN has regularly featured among 100 best companies for women in India by Working Mother & Avtar. Its 'wellbeing', 'meaning at work', and learning practices are recognized by Chambers D&I (APAC), UK, BW BusinessWorld, and PeopleStrong.

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) MD and CEO N.P. Singh said,“Being featured amongst India's Best Workplaces for Women 2020 is a milestone achievement that reflects our belief in the power of diversity. This accolade has strengthened SPN’s stance as an inclusive industry leader and raised the benchmark criteria for an Employer of Choice. I dedicate this recognition to our passionate and committed workforce.”

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) chief human resource officer Manu Wadhwa said,“At SPN, employee voice is of paramount importance. This recognition of being an equal workplace is a testament to our efforts towards building a culture of trust, connectedness and care with heightened zeal, empathy and passion. The consecutive wins empower us to continue accelerating our endeavours in this direction.”  

  • SPN acquires exclusive global media rights for Sri Lanka Cricket

    SPN acquires exclusive global media rights for Sri Lanka Cricket

    KOLKATA: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has acquired the exclusive global media rights for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), with the exception of terrestrial, digital and radio rights for the territory of Sri Lanka which has been retained by SLC, for a period of three years starting 1 July 2020.

    The agreement provides SPN exclusive TV and digital rights to air all 92 days of LIVE cricket comprising 10 Test Matches, 24 ODIs and 18 T20Is sanctioned by the ICC and conducted by SLC between the senior men’s national cricket team of Sri Lanka and visiting ICC member national cricket teams along with access to Sri Lanka Cricket’s archival content. The deal also include rights to broadcast India touring Sri Lanka to play six T20Is and three ODIs with one of the series scheduled for July 2021 that will feature three T20Is while the date for the other series is yet to be announced.

    Sri Lanka Cricket is home to some of the best cricketers in the world such as Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera to name a few and the current Sri Lankan cricket team is ranked in the top five in the world as per ICC Test rankings.

    With the acquisition of Sri Lanka Cricket, SPN now holds broadcast rights of England and Wales Cricket Board, Cricket Australia and Cricket Ireland and has over 375 days of International, Big Bash T20 league, England Domestic Live cricket till FY 2022-23 which includes 31 days of India cricket.  

     “Sony Pictures Networks India is the premier destination for the best of international cricket, and we are excited about continuing our partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket. The acquisition of the exclusive global TV and digital rights of Sri Lanka Cricket strengthens our cricket portfolio. Our extended partnership with Sri Lanka Cricket adds 92 days of live cricket, including two India tours to Sri Lanka, to our robust cricket calendar,” SPN Sports Business and Distribution chief revenue officer Rajesh Kaul said. 

    “Sri Lanka Cricket is delighted to partner with Sony Pictures Networks India and continue the long-standing relationship, which has given immense benefits to both parties. Sri Lanka Cricket is truly excited and looking forward to continue working with Sony Pictures Networks India on the future tour program,” Sri Lanka Cricket president Shammi Silva said.

  • Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) recognised among India’s Best Companies To Work 2020

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) recognised among India’s Best Companies To Work 2020

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN), has been honoured among India's Best Companies To Work For 2020 by the Great Place to Work® Institute, India. This data has been gathered from an overall ranking of the 100 Best Companies to Work for in India, by surveying over 2.1 million people in 800+ organizations across 21+ industries. The Great Place to Work® Institute is a firm that assists organisations to identify, create and sustain great workplaces through the development of high-trust cultures. This study was done with the most rigorous, credible and comprehensive methodologies to identify such organizations.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CBpY_Adp6kG/?igshid=1ddfvlrzkrpu7

    Staying true to its Go-Beyond corporate philosophy, India’s leading entertainment and sports broadcast network, SPN, has always been an employee-first organisation. The network truly believes in providing a nurturing environment for its employees with an empowering culture built on its foundational values that encourages differences in perspectives, fosters collaboration and rewards excellence. Building on its employee value proposition, ‘Tell Stories Beyond the Ordinary’ – manifested through its three pillars: Think, Rise and Live, employees are empowered to craft their own experiences and go the extra mile, pushing the envelope by generating pathbreaking, premium and progressive content.

    The following are some of initiatives that earned SPN the recognition as one of India's Best Companies To Work For 2020:
    • Through its signature enterprise series – ‘Propellers’, employees receive opportunities to co-create the company’s vision, lead and deliver organisational development projects with recognition, visibility and mentorship from the CEO.
     
    • To fuel a robust content culture SPN offers an ideation platform – ‘SPN Pitchers’, where employees across the network can pitch their next big idea/program hosted under the patronage of the network’s flagship channels and content studio – StudioNEXT.

    • SPN offers multiple learning avenues through the SPN Learning Academy. It provides tailored experiences across levels, peer learning platforms and best-in-class content initiatives like ‘Dastangoi’, to help build a future-ready, high-performance content culture. This helps align people, purpose, passion and profits to create meaning at work.

    • To enable employees upskill and encourage them to stay ahead of the game, a fluid and flexible learning environment is furthered through e-learning opportunities and custom webinars to drive learning across the board.

    •Taking a holistic approach to the wellbeing of its employees, SPN provides the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – an emotional and mental wellness counselling support service, along with comprehensive sponsored annual health check-ups and medical insurance for employees and their families covering congenital diseases as well as providing for infertility treatment.

    • SPN supports new parents in their transition through extended parental leave which includes leave for adoption and enhanced parental benefits like preferential parking for pregnant women, a mother’s room on the premises, amongst other initiatives.

    Furthermore, as a strong advocate of inclusion, SPN revised its policies, benefits and infrastructure, such as gender-neutral language, gender-neutral washrooms, and universal parental and medical benefits to include members of the LGBTQ+ community. Employees are also given in-depth information on prevention of sexual harassment (POSH) along with the deployment of a host of safety measures. Through recurring sensitisation programs such as ‘Unconscious Bias’ trainings, focus group discussions and forums as well as incentivising through 2X rewards on LGBTQ+, women and PWD referrals, SPN fosters inclusion in both its culture and content.
    Comments:

    N.P. Singh, Managing Director and CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN):
    “It is indeed an honour to be recognised among India’s Best Companies to Work for 2020 by Great Place to Work®, India. This recognition is an acknowledgement of our commitment towards building a culture of trust, pride and care. We hold ourselves to the highest standards in everything that we set out to do. I dedicate this achievement to the entire team at SPN.”

    Manu Wadhwa, Chief Human Resource Officer, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN):
    “Our progressive policies and initiatives have evolved from proactively listening to people over the course of time and creating a conducive environment for their professional and personal growth. We are delighted and honored to have been bestowed with this recognition. Winning this award is a testament of our consistent drive towards challenging stereotypes and breaking boundaries.”

  • SPN to discontinue AXN, AXN HD from 30 June

    SPN to discontinue AXN, AXN HD from 30 June

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has decided to discontinue the operations of two of its English general entertainment channels (GECs) with effect from 30 June. The major broadcaster has circulated a letter informing the shutting down of AXN and AXN HD.

    “With reference to the aforementioned subject matter, kindly note that we will be discontinuing the operation of our channels AXN and AXN HD, Genre- General Entertainment Channel (English) w.e.f the midnight of 30 June, 2020,” SPN distribution operation associate vice president Anuj Yadav stated in a letter.

    "In keeping with our growth strategy, we are realigning our channel portfolio. Accordingly, we have decided to discontinue AXN and AXN HD. This decision comes into effect on June 30, 2020," SPN clarified when Indiantelevision.com reached the broadcaster for reaction.

    English channels were majorly hit by the new tariff order (NTO) rolled out in 2019. Several reports have indicated that English pay-TV channels would see a massive drop in their revenues post the NTO. Moreover, the emergence of OTT platforms offering English content has also spelt doom for the English channels. Adding to the cup of woes of the broadcasters, the Covid2019 crisis has badly affected the advertising revenues also.

  • SonyLIV selects Intertrust’s cloud-based multi-DRM service

    SonyLIV selects Intertrust’s cloud-based multi-DRM service

    MUMBAI: Intertrust’s cloud-based multi-DRM service, ExpressPlay DRM, has been selected by SonyLIV in India to protect content streaming and downloads including both online and offline playback on all devices.

    The partnership covers all channels and entertainment programming on the SonyLIV platform, including over-the-top (OTT) live and on-demand streaming of TV, premium shows, movies, and sports events.

    Owned by Sony Pictures Networks India Pvt. Ltd., SonyLIV is one of the top five OTT services in India. It houses more than 40,000 hours of VOD programming across five languages—Hindi, English, Marathi, Tamil, and Telugu—coupled with more than 24 years of content from channels of Sony Pictures Networks India. Last year, the service launched in the Middle East and has plans to expand its complete bouquet of services in several Southeast Asian countries.

    “Riding on its compelling stories and diverse content catalogue, SonyLIV has garnered a record growth in MAUs, engagement, and subscriptions over the last year,” said Manish Verma, head of technology, SonyLIV. “The content protection service enabled by the ExpressPlay DRM is key to our ability to gear up for even more traction in the year ahead. ExpressPlay DRM will be key to augmenting our phenomenal success with live sports which has triggered a doubling of overall consumption growth over the last year alone.”

    Intertrust’s technology will protect both live and on-demand OTT sports streaming on SonyLIV, which achieved a landmark viewership of 70 million for the FIFA World Cup 2018, the highest-ever for football in India. Last year, the broadcasting of the Indian cricket team’s overseas tour of Australia and England commanded a viewership of 50 million and 30 million respectively, accounting for a five-fold jump in time spent on the platform.

    “The forces of technology and competition continue to erode media silos. Protecting both content creators and service operators is essential to remaining agile as streaming services look to offer up the best viewing experience,” said Talal G. Shamoon, CEO at Intertrust. “The ExpressPlay DRM service lets OTT providers protect and control media consumption across any mobile or smart device, allowing viewers to enjoy a personalized selection of channels, live entertainment, and sports enabled by a world-class streaming app like SonyLIV.”

    The market-leading Intertrust ExpressPlay multi-DRM service, which supports all streaming platforms, DRM, and media formats, now protects OTT content for one-quarter of the world’s population. It is the only multi-DRM cloud service that supports Apple FairPlay Streaming, Google Widevine, Adobe Access, Microsoft PlayReady, and the open-standard Marlin DRM. It is a complementary solution to ExpressPlay XCA, which provides seamless interoperability for hybrid TV operators on mobile, web, smart TVs, and set-top boxes. The ExpressPlay content security suite offers forensic watermarking and anti-piracy services (powered by Friend MTS) to protect live and premium 4K/UHD content.